Despite an expected absence of large floats like that of Celltrion Healthcare last year, IPOs by biotech and pharma firms in South Korea are poised to rise in 2018 amid an improved stock listing environment and progress in novel drug development.

South Korean bioventure OliPass tells Scrip how it intends to grab a leading position in the global antisense oligonucleotide drug sector using in-house developed technology that it says can both sharply lower prices and increase safety in the field, where it is initially focusing on novel pain therapies.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced October-November 2014.

Our monthly update on technology transfer deals--licensing agreements between companies and universities or other research institutions--in the fields of life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents.